Scarlett Johansson is one of the most accomplished and hot A-list Hollywood actresses. She has a filmography that will make anyone envious and she’s also globally recognized for being Black Widow in the MCU. One of the best projects in the star’s career was Match Point (2005) directed by Woody Allen. Even though Johansson wasn’t the first choice for the role, she quickly became a favorite muse of the director.

Johansson got the role when Kate Winslet left it to take care of her then-infant son, Joe. Allen was impressed with Johansson’s acting ability and vivacious presence. But he also made an eyebrow-raising s*xual remark towards her. Yet, when the director was hit with abuse allegations, she stood beside him.

The Scarlett Johansson And Woody Allen Equation 

When Woody Allen and Scarlett Johansson were working on Match Point, the director was taken by the celeb’s natural movie star looks and intelligence. Later on, they even worked on another movie, Scoop (2006) that he wrote with Johansson in mind. In his memoir, Apropos of Nothing, the director said that he had to fight his pheromones in her presence. As per Allen:
“She was only 19 when she did Match Point but it was all there. An exciting actress, a natural movie star, real intelligence, quick and funny. And when you meet her you have to fight your way through pheromones.”

Woody Allen

That’s not all. In addition to being witty, he also found her to be “sexually overwhelming.” He said, “Not only was she gifted and beautiful, but s*xually she was radioactive.” During an interview with NY Times, he said, “It’s very hard to be extra witty around a s*xually overwhelming, beautiful young woman who is wittier than you are. Anytime I say anything amusing, Scarlett tops me.” 

As expected, these comments raised eyebrows and created controversy. Many thought the director was crossing his boundaries and being inappropriate with his star. Others thought Allen’s statements were weird because Johansson was only 19 at the time of Match Point. However, the Marvel actress wasn’t too bothered by it, in fact she took it as a flattering compliment. In a 2006 interview with Blackfilm, she said:
“Um – I – you know, I guess I take it as a compliment. But you know, hopefully not too overwhelming. I don’t know. I find him to be overwhelming sometimes. Maybe not s*xually overwhelming, but overwhelming. Especially before he eats his muffins in the morning. But I think it’s very sweet of him to say.”
Johansson’s loyalty to Allen ran so deep that she was one of the few people who publicly supported him when he was facing allegations of s*xual abuse.

When Scarlett Johansson Defended Woody Allen

Scarlett Johansson and Woody Allen

Mia Farrow, Woody Allen’s ex-wife, in her 1997 memoir, What Falls Away, accused the director of s*xually abusing Dylan Farrow, their adopted daughter. Then there are the entire incestuous and s*xual abuse allegations regarding Allen and Soon-Yi Previn, Mia Farrow’s other adopted daughter. However, Previn has stated to Newsweek that she never considered the director as her father figure. Over the years, many people had different opinions on these incidents. Scarlett Johansson included.

Scarlett Johansson

The actress stated that she believed him over everyone else. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, she said “I love Woody. I believe him, and I would work with him anytime.” Johansson did face severe criticism for saying this, and in a later Variety interview, she said that she spoke only about her experience with him. She said:
“I don’t know – I feel the way I feel about it. It’s my experience. I don’t know any more than any other person knows. I only have a close proximity with Woody…he’s a friend of mine. But I have no other insight other than my relationship with him.”
Johansson and Allen worked on one more project after Scoop. It was the 2008 film Vicky Cristina Barcelona. After that, the two didn’t collaborate. However, even now, the actress talks fondly about the director. Johansson is currently busy with a couple of projects namely, Project Artemis and Asteroid City. Allen is busy with making and presenting his 50th film titled Coup de Chance.

Match Point is available on Hulu.

Source: Black film and The Hollywood Reporter